Hundreds surround immigration van during raid and chant ‘leave our neighbours’

A man has placed himself under an immigration enforcement van in Glasgow (Picture: PA)

Hundreds of protesters have surrounded a Home Office van, with one lying directly underneath it, to stop it leaving a street in Glasgow.

The immigration enforcement vehicle was parked in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, where around 200 people turned up chanting ‘Leave our neighbours, let them go’ and ‘Cops go home’.

A large number of police officers in face masks are also in attendance.

Campaigners and neighbours hit out at the ‘disgraceful’ raid, which took place as millions of Muslims prepared to celebrate Eid.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was ‘deeply concerned by this action by the Home Office, especially today in the heart of a community celebrating Eid’, adding: ‘My office is making urgent enquiries and stands ready to offer any necessary assistance to those detained.’

Justice Secretary and MSP for Glasgow Pollok Humza Yousaf has also asked to speak to the Home Secretary about the scenes.

He tweeted: ‘This UK Border Force Operation, in Polloksheilds, the heart of the Muslim community, on Eid is a demonstration of the UK Govt’s hostile environment.

‘I have asked to speak to the Home Secretary to gain further details & make clear just how unacceptable this situation is.’

Police line up around the immigration enforcement van (Picture: Getty) Protesters held signs reading ‘migrants & refugees welcome here’ (Picture: Getty) Some sat in the road to block the van from leaving (Picture: Getty)

Tom, a neighbour who joined the protest, compared the immigration operation to a police raid on Christmas Day.

The 31-year-old, who did not want to give his surname, said: ‘The solidarity shown today shows the community will not stand for their neighbours being dragged from their homes.

‘I’d ask Christians to reflect on what it would feel like to have your house raided on Christmas Day.’

He said the police presence was ‘increasing fairly rapidly’, with 10 vans at the scene at around midday.

Protesters chanted ‘Leave our neighbours, let them go’ (Picture: Getty) Police were called to Kenmure Street in Pollokshields (Picture: PA)

Mohammad Asif, director of the Afghan Human Rights Foundation, was one of what he said were hundreds of neighbours protesting against the action.

The 54-year-old said: ‘We’re here against the hostile environment created by the Tories and the British state.

‘The same people who run from the British and American bombs put at the back of the van right now. And they are about to be deported.

‘And it’s on Eid you know… the guys are not even allowed to pray. How do you do that in a democratic society? It’s a sad day.’

Mr Asif, who left Afghanistan as a refugee himself in 2000, said the atmosphere amongst the protesters is peaceful.

Sabir Zazai, chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, wrote on Twitter: ‘Not close to the details on this but this is shocking, disgraceful and racist if people are raided by enforcement officers amidst the pandemic on the day of #Eid.’

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A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘At around 9.55am this morning, police were called to support colleagues at the UK Border Agency at an address in Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow.

‘A number of protesters are now at the location. Officers are at the scene and inquiries are continuing.’

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